BP has been operating in India since 1989. While lubricants is BP's main business activity in India, the company also operates India's most successful solar power company as a joint venture with the Tata group.

BP entered India through a joint venture with Tata Power to form Tata BP Solar. The company entered the lubricant business in India by taking over Burmah Castrol in 2000, with a 71 per cent shareholding.

Subsequently, Tata BP Lubricants India Limited was amalgamated with Castrol India Ltd. BP now holds 71.3 per cent of the paid up capital of the company.

Castrol India has the second largest share of the Indian lubricant market. Castrol leads in the automotive lubes segment.